Picked to finish first in both preseason polls, defending regular-season champion East Tennessee State stumbled out of the gates and split its first four Atlantic Sun games.

It was right about then that head coach Murry Bartow and the Buccaneers first started talking about "holding our future in our hands."

"We've had some early tests and some tough games, but the biggest part of our season is still to come," Bartow told the Bristol Herald Courier in mid-January. "I like where we stand and I like our chances if we stick together and play like we should."

The Buccaneers responded by winning six straight games and 11 of their next 14 before losing to nemesis Belmont by four points in the Atlantic Sun tournament semifinals. They had 80-plus points in 10 of those 11 wins, including three games of 90-plus, showcasing the explosive offense that was mostly dormant in the early going.

Led by Courtney Pigram and Kevin Tiggs, East Tennessee State will be a top contender in the Atlantic Sun again in 2008-09. The Buccaneers may be 6-7 against the Bruins, but they own a combined 61-15 (.803) record against the league's other members.

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